title: Physical activity and gestational weight gain in Hispanic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hispanic women have high rates of excessive and inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) according to Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines. Observational studies suggest that physical activity may be associated with GWG but have been conflicting and were largely conducted in non-Hispanic white populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The association between physical activity and compliance with GWG guidelines, total GWG, and rate of GWG among 1,276 Hispanic participants in Proyecto Buena Salud, a cohort study in Western Massachusetts was prospectively evaluated. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess pre, early, mid, and late pregnancy physical activity according to both intensity (i.e., sedentary, moderate, and vigorous) and type (i.e., housework/caregiving, occupational, and sports/exercise).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 26.9% of women gained within IOM guidelines, 21.2% had inadequate GWG, and 51.9% experienced excessive GWG. Overall, we did not observe statistically significant associations between type or intensity of physical activity during pre, early, mid, and late pregnancy and inadequate or excessive GWG, total GWG, or rate of GWG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this prospective cohort study of Hispanic women, after controlling for important risk factors, pregnancy physical activity did not appear to be associated with GWG.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chasan-Taber
authors.forename: Marushka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Kristine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pekow
authors.forename: Caren G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Markenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D009043:Motor Activity; D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult